Military chaplains to work in all military units from May 15

Military chaplains will start working in all combat troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since May 15, the head of the Chief Department of moral and psychological support of the Armed Forces Major General Oleh Hruntkovskyy was reported as saying at a briefing by "Religion in Ukraine" which quotes Seo-top-news .com.ua.

- According to Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, from May 15, the positions of chaplains will be introduced in all combat units. We conducted a survey in the army, studied attitudes to different denominations, composed lists of candidates that have already been agreed by the Pastoral Council to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Chaplains are willing to work, they will have to sit for an interview with the commanders of military units and get an appointment,” said major general.

According to him, the introduction of chaplains in the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be carried out in two stages. In the first phase, which ends in late June, military chaplains are assigned to combat units by the end of the year - in all divisions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

- If we are talking about a combat brigade, a chaplain there will not be working alone there, two to four chaplains will be involved. We continue to study the process of their work, consider the experience that we already have. We also do not refuse voluntary mission that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have a church, but the work of chaplains is also important because they will permanently stay with the personnel on the front line,” Major General Oleh Hruntkovskyy said.